Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-07
NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURES.
4 Slow Fight at Concord-The Discus.
sion of the Railroad Bills Resumed in
the House.
CONCORD, N. H., Sept. s.

CONCORD, N. H., Sept 6.
In the House, this morning, the discussion
of the HsZen and Atherton railroad bills was
resumed.
Mr.. Mason of Dover, spoke in opposition
10 the passage of the Hszen bill. He said he
concurred with the statement heretofore made
that p nding is the most important legislation
ever presented for the law makers of the
State. The motive in determining this ques-
tion should be to do the greatest good for the
greatest number. Nothing can do so much
for the community as well regulated rail-
roads, and any plan to put our railroads in
the hands of foreign corporation should be
maturely considered before being permitted.
In New Hampshire the railroads are con
trolled by the people and net the people by
the railroads. The right of railroads to con-
solidate has been looked upon without jeal-
Gus eyes He maintained that the Hazen bill
was not, as asserted, simply to perfect the
Colby bill of 1888. The only purpose of the
Colby bill was to permit union of the East
ern and Maine into one line, and of the roads
in the Merrimack valley into another. This
claim of the friends of the Hszen bill is only
a subterfuge TO obtain special privileges.
Neither the Lowell, Boston & Maine nor Con-
cord understood in 1888 that the Colby bill
conferred any of the special powers now
claimed by the Maine in this controversy.
What then shall be said at this attempt to
palm off false pretenses to secure legislation.
The Concord and Boston & Maine were part
ners in securing the passage of the Colby bill
in 1888, and the latter road proposed to go
back on its position in the transaction. The
Concord railroad asked that the Maine be
compelled to keep its good faith in that tran
sacton. Competition was begun in railroad
management a few years since. Now it is
consolidation. There could be no doubt that
a consolidation of the property would result
for the benefit of the people under the Colby
bill. A consolidation of the Eastern wth
the Maine was authorized, but it was viola
| tion of principle and in the long run would
prove mistake. The reduction in fares and
freights was so small as to be inapprecable.
The same men in Andover and Boston made
money in the bonds and stock of the Eastern.
But the public had derived no benefit there
from. The Boston & Maine demands to be
placed in possession of a separate and dis
tinct system in New Hampshire. To grant
them the request would be q mistake and
would result IN disadvantage to the people of
the entire State, to those of the upper section
especially. Several States have already
passed restrictive legislation and New Hamp-
shire ought to follow their example.
The speaker did not propose 10 champion
the Concord or urge with any great ardor the
passage Of the Atherton bill, but he did be-
lieve in creating New Hampshire system
running from the Canada line through the
Merrimak valley, to be controlled by New
Hampshire men. He believed his duty to be
to legislate for New Hsmpshire's interests
before considering those of the rest of the
world. That he would leave to philanthropy
lists The Concord road is rich and power
full, and has the capacity to assist the weaker
upper roads. This the corporation was will
ing to do if the Athe1ton bill becomes a law.
In the Senate this afternoon Senator Saw
yer rose to questionIa privilege and made the
following statement:
SIT becomes my duty to myself and to the
Senate to place before this body facts of a
transaction that took place in the State House
last week. On Wednesday l was called
from the Senate chamber by the sergeant-at-
arms and met Kirk d. Pierce. During our
conversation he proposed that make speech
on the Boston & Maine railroad for $4,000. l
need not say that the proposition was indig-
nantly declined"
Upon the motion of Senator Stearns a
committee consisting of Senators Stearns,
Hersey, Neatly, Pitman, and Jameson, was
appointed to investigate the charge with pow
er to send tor persons and papers. The com
mittee will begin tomorrow.